PETALING JAYA: Some Malaysians have taken to holidaying locally following several incidents of natural disasters that occurred overseas.
They said that their vacation need not have to be far from home as domestic destinations were becoming an increasingly attractive option.
Malaysian trekker Nelson Lin, 53, experienced the anxiety first-hand while at Mardi Himal’s High Camp in Nepal when he learnt about the floods and mudslides on Aug 26.
Although the affected area was far from where he was staying, Lin said the news was still frightening as he was in a mountainous spot at the time.
He immediately contacted his family to assure them that he was safe.
His return journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Aug 29 was also smooth with the airport and traffic operating normally.
The experience has not deterred him from trekking but his upcoming travel plans will focus mainly on Malaysia.
“I have already climbed many mountains in the country over the years. I will be heading to Gua Batu Maloi in Negri Sembilan for caving and river trekking,” he said.
Lin also plans to go diving in October before travelling to Semporna, Sabah, in December.
Another Malaysian traveller Jason Tan, 45, who is planning an Everest trip, is also keeping an eye on developments before deciding whether any changes are necessary.
Housewife Tracy Kong, 48, who is planning a trip to Bhutan with her husband in December, said they would continue monitoring the situation following the disaster in Nepal.
She said Bhutan’s mountainous terrain, high altitude and glaciers meant they preferred to wait for updates from their travel agency before deciding whether to proceed.
If the trip is cancelled, Kong said she would consider travelling to Kundasang, Sabah instead.
She said she had been making a greater effort to explore Malaysia this year, particularly as she had never travelled to Sabah and Sarawak for leisure.
The cost of air tickets and uncertainties arising from the changing global situation had also made domestic travel a more attractive option, she said.
Entrepreneur Mohd Saiful, 40, said he would focus more on domestic holidays with his family amid uncertainties overseas.
He recently attended MATTA Fair where he bought tour packages to Pahang as well as stays at island resorts.
“There are so many beautiful places in Malaysia that we have yet to explore. I want to bring my children to see and experience them,” he said.
Malaysia’s domestic tourism sector maintained a strong upward trajectory in the first half of this year.
Data from the Statistics Department showed that domestic visitor arrivals reached 74.7 million in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 7.2% increase compared to the same period last year.
This surge in mobility generated RM34bil in domestic tourism expenditure, representing a substantial 15.8% jump year-on-year.
